DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, R.K.

PURAM
CLASS X
CHAPTER: CONTROL AND COORDINATION

Control and Coordination in Animals: Nervous system and endocrine system.

In animals, the nervous system and hormonal system are responsible for control and
co¬ordination.

Receptors: Receptors are the specialised tips of the nerve fibres that collect the
information to be conducted by the nerves.Receptors are in the sense organs of the
animals.
These are classified as follows :

● Phono-receptors: These are present in the inner ear.

Functions: The main functions are hearing and balance of the body.
● Photo-receptors: These are present in the eye.
Function: These are responsible for visual stimulus.
● Thermo-receptors: These are present in skin.
Functions: These receptors are responsible for pain, touch and heat stimuli.
These receptors are also known as thermoreceptors.
● Olfactory-receptors: These are present in the nose.
Functions: These receptors receive smell.
● Gustatory-receptors: These are present in the tongue.
Functions: These help in taste detection.

Nervous System: The nervous system is composed of specialised tissues, called

nervous tissue. The nerve cell or neuron is the functional unit of the nervous system. It
is the nervous system which is mainly responsible for control and coordination in
complex animals.

Functions of the nervous system

● Nervous system receives information from the environment.

● To receive the information from the various parts of the body.
● To act through muscles and glands.

A neuron is the structural and functional unit of the nervous system.

Neuron: Neuron is a highly specialised cell which is responsible for the transmission of
nerve impulses. The neuron consists of the following parts
(i) Cyton or cell body: The cell body or cyton is somewhat star-shaped, with many hair
like structures protruding out of the margin. These hair-like structures are called
dendrites. Dendrites receive the nerve impulses.

(ii) Axon: This is the tail of the neuron. It ends in several hair-like structures, called axon
terminals. The axon terminals relay nerve impulses.

(iii) Myelin sheath: There is an insulator cover around the axon. This is called myelin
sheath. The myelin sheath insulates the axon against nerve impulse from the
surroundings.

Types of neuron

● Sensory neuron: These neurons receive signals from a sense organ.

● Motor neuron: These neurons send signals to a muscle or a gland.
 ● Association or relay neuron: These neurons relay the signals between
sensory neuron and motor neuron.

Neuron Diagram Class 10

Synapse: The point contact between the terminal branches of the axon of one neuron
with the dendrite of another neuron is called synapse.
Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ): NMJ is the point where a muscle fibre comes in contact
with a motor neuron carrying nerve impulse from the control nervous system.

Transmission of nerve impulse: Nerve impulses travel in the following manner from one
neuron to the next :
Dendrites → cell body → axon → nerve endings at the tip of axon → synapse →
dendrite of the next neuron.
Chemicals released from the axon tip of one neuron, cross the synapse or
neuromuscular junction to reach the next cell.

Human Nervous System: The nervous system in humans can be divided into three main
parts
1. Central Nervous System: The central nervous system is composed of the brain and
the spinal cord. The brain controls all the functions in the human body. The spinal cord
works as the relay channel for signals between the brain and the peripheral nervous
system.
2. Peripheral Nervous System: The peripheral nervous system is composed of the
cranial nerves and spinal nerves. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves. The cranial
nerves come out of the brain and go to the organs in the head region. There are 31
pairs of spinal nerves. The spinal nerves come out of the spinal cord and go to the
organs which are below the head region.

Human Brain: Human brain is a highly complex organ, which is mainly composed of
nervous tissue. The tissues are highly folded to accommodate a large surface area in
less space. The brain is covered by a three-layered system of membranes, called
meninges. Cerebrospinal fluid is filled between the meninges. The CSF providers
cushion the brain against mechanical shocks. Furthermore, protection. The human brain
can be divided into three regions, viz. forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain.

Parts of Human Brain :

● Fore-brain: It is composed of the cerebrum.

● Midbrain: It is composed of the hypothalamus.
● Hind-brain: It is composed of the cerebellum, pons, medulla, oblongata.

Some main structures of the human brain are explained below :

Cerebrum: The cerebrum is the largest part in the human brains. It is divided into two
hemispheres called cerebral hemispheres.
Functions of cerebrum

● The cerebrum controls voluntary motor actions.

● It is the site of sensory perceptions, like tactile and auditory perceptions.
● It is the seat of learning and memory.

Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus lies at the base of the cerebrum. It controls sleep and
wake cycle (circadian rhythm) of the body. It also controls the urges for eating and
drinking.

Cerebellum: Cerebellum lies below the cerebrum and at the back of the whole structure.
It coordinates the motor functions. When you are riding your bicycle, the perfect
coordination between your pedalling and steering control is achieved by the cerebellum.

● It controls posture and balance.

● It controls the precision of voluntary action.

Medulla: Medulla forms the brain stem, along with the pons. It lies at the base of the
brain and continues into the spinal cord. The medulla controls various involuntary
functions, like hear beat respiration, etc.
It controls involuntary actions.
Example: Blood pressure, salivation, vomiting.

Pons: It relays impulses between the lower cerebellum and spinal cord, and higher parts
of the brain like the cerebrum and midbrain, also regulates respiration.

Spinal cord: Spinal cord controls the reflex actions and conducts massages between
different parts of the body and brain.

Reflex Action: Reflex action is a special case of involuntary movement involuntary

organs. When a voluntary organ is in the vicinity of sudden danger, it is immediately
pulled away from the danger to save itself. For example, when your hand touches a
very hot electric iron, you move away your hand in a jerk. All of this happens in flash
and your hand is saved from the imminent injury. This is an example of reflex action.

Reflex Arc: The path through which nerves signals, involved in a reflex action, travel is
called the reflex arc. The following flow chart shows the flow of signal in a reflex arc.
Receptor → Sensory neuron → Relay neuron → Motor neuron → Effector (muscle)
The receptor is the organ which comes in the danger zone. The sensory neurons pick
signals from the receptor and send them to the relay neuron. The relay neuron is
present in the spinal cord. The spinal cord sends signals to the effector via the motor
neuron. The effector comes in action, moves the receptor away from the danger.

The reflex arc passes at the level of the spinal cord and the signals involved in reflex
action do not travel up to the brain. This is important because sending signals to the
brain would involve more time.
Although every action is ultimately controlled by the brain, the reflex action is mainly
controlled at the level of spinal cord.

Protection of brain and spinal cord

Brain is protected by a fluid filled balloon which acts as shocks absorber and enclosed
in cranium (Brain box)
Spinal cord is enclosed in the vertebral column.

Muscular Movements and Nervous Control: Muscle tissues have special filaments,
called actin and myosin. When a muscle receives a nerve signal, a series of events is
triggered in the muscle. Calcium ions enter the muscle cells. It results in actin and
myosin filaments sliding towards each other and that is how a muscle contracts.
Contraction in a muscle brings movement in the related organ.

Endocrine System: The endocrine system is composed of several endocrine glands. A

ductless gland is called endocrine gland. Endocrine gland secretes its product directly
into the bloodstream. Hormones are produced in the endocrine glands. Hormone is
mainly composed of protein. Hormones assist the nervous system in control and
co-ordination. Nervous do not react to every nook and corner of the body and hence
hormones are needed to affect control and coordination in those parts. Moreover, unlike
nervous control, hormonal control is somewhat slower.

Hormones: These are the chemical messengers secreted in very small amounts by
specialised tissues called ductless glands. They act on target tissues/organs usually
away from their source. The Endocrine System helps in control and coordination
through chemical compounds called hormones.
Endocrine Gland: A ductless gland that secretes hormones directly into the
bloodstream.

Endocrine Location Hormones Functions

Gland Produced

Pituitary At the base of Growth hormone GH stimulates growth.

gland (also the brain (GH).

known as the TSH stimulates the

master gland) Thyroid stimulating functioning of the thyroid

hormone (TSH). gland.

Follicle stimulating

hormone (FSH) FSH stimulates the follicles

during ovulation.
 Thyroid Neck Thyroxine Controls general metabolism

Gland and growth in the body.

Adrenal gland Above kidneys Adrenalin Prepares the body for

emergency situations and

hence is also called ‘Fight

and flight’ hormone.

Pancreas Near stomach Insulin Controls blood sugar level

Testis (male) In Scrotum Testosterone Sperm production,

development of secondary

sexual characters during

puberty.

Ovary Near uterus Oestrogen Egg production, development

(female) of secondary sexual

characters during puberty.

Iodised salt is necessary because: Iodine mineral is essential part of thyronine hormone
so it is important that we must consume iodised salt as in turn it is essential for thyroid
gland as it controls carbohydrate, proteins and fat metabolism for best balance of
growth deficiency of iodine might cause disease called goitre.

Diabetes: Cause : It is due to deficiency of insulin hormone secreted by pancreas that is

responsible to lower/control the blood sugar levels.

Treatment : Patients have to internally administer injections of insulin hormone which

helps in regulating blood-sugar level.

In case of flight or fight reaction to an emergency situation, Adrenal glands → release

adrenaline into blood → which acts on heart and other tissues → causes faster heart
beat → more oxygen to muscles → reduced blood supply to digestive system and skin
→ diversion of blood to skeletal muscles → increase in breathing rate.

Feedback mechanism: A type of self-regulating mechanism which controls the amount

and timing of the hormone

Control and Coordination in Plants: Movements in plants and plant hormones.

Growth independent movements

The movements which are not growth related are called nastic movements. These
movements occur in response to environmental stimuli but the direction of response is
not dependent on the direction of the stimulus.

THIGMONASTIC MOVEMENTS:
 ● The movement which does not depend on the direction from the stimulus acts is
called nastic movement. For example, when someone touches the leaves of
Mimosa Pudica, the leaves droop. The drooping is independent of the direction
from which the leaves are touched. Such movements usually happen because of
changing water balance in the cells. When leaves of mimosa are touched, the
cells in the leaves lose- water and become flaccid, resulting in drooping of
leaves.

Growth-related movements in plants

The movements which are growth related are called Tropic Movements. These
movements occur in response to environmental stimuli and the direction of the response
is dependent on the direction of the stimulus.

There are four types of tropic movements.

(i) Geotropic movement: The growth in a plant part in response to gravity is called
geotropic movement. Roots usually show positive geotropic movement, i.e. they grow in
the direction of the gravity. Stems usually show negative geotropic movement.
(ii) Phototropic Movement: The growth in a plant part in response to light is called
phototropic movement. Stems usually show positive phototropic movement, while roots
usually show negative phototropic movement. If a plant is kept in a container in which
no sunlight reaches and a hole in the container allows some sunlight; the stem finally
grows in the direction of the sunlight. This happens because of a higher rate of cell
division in the part of the stem which is away from the sunlight. As a result, the stem
bends towards the light. The heightened rate of cell division is attained by increased
secretion of the plant hormone auxin in the side which is away from sunlight.

● Towards light-positive phototropism

● Away from light – negative phototropism
● Stems move towards light and roots move away from light
(iii) Hydrotropic Movement: When roots grow in the soil, they usually grow towards
the nearest source of water. This shows a positive hydrotropic movement.

● Towards water-positive hydrotropism

● Away from water – negative hydrotropism
● Again, root movement in search of water is positive hydrotropism

(iv) Thigmotropic Movement: The growth in a plant part in response to touch is called
thigmotropism movement. Such movements are seen in tendrils of climbers. The tendril
grows in a way so as it can coil around a support. The differential rate of cell division in
different parts of the tendril happens due to action of auxin.
 ● Towards touch – Positive thigmotropism
● Away from touch – negative thigmotropism
● Movement of tendrils around the support is positive thigmotropism

Chemotropic Movement: The growth of plant parts in response to a chemical stimulus is

known as chemotropism.
The growth of a pollen tube towards the ovule induced by a sugary stimulus is an
example of chemotropism. This is an example of positive chemotropism as the pollen
tube grows towards the stimulus.

● Towards chemical – positive chemotropism

● Away from chemical – negative chemotropism
● The growth of pollen tube towards the ovule is positive chemotropism
Plant hormones: Plant hormones are chemicals which help to coordinate growth,
development and responses to the environment.
Type of plant hormones: Main plant hormones are

● Auxin: (Synthesised at shoot tip).

Function: Helps in growth.
Phototropism: more growth of cells towards the light.
● Gibberellin: Helps in the growth of the stem.
● Cytokinins: Promotes cell division.
● Abscisic acid: Inhibits growth, causes wilting of leaves. (Stress hormone)